State courts slow to put documents online

Nearly every document in the federal government's case against six men accused of plotting an attack on Fort Dix -- the original charges in May, their indictment in June, even a recent order directing that their public defenders be paid -- can be viewed over the Internet.

Because of the high-profile nature of the case, U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler plans to give it special treatment, posting prosecution and defense exhibits online as soon as they are introduced into evidence.

But even routine matters -- contract disputes, fraud cases, bankruptcies -- filed in most federal courts end up online. Anyone who signs up for access can read opinions for free and view other documents for a modest fee.

While the federal courts continue to expand their online offerings, however, state court systems are dragging their feet. One reason is the cost of converting millions of pieces of paper into electronic forms. Another is the fear court records contain personal details that, when laid out on the Web for anyone to see, could be used to steal someone's identity or invade their privacy.

Dozens of state court systems, including New Jersey's, have formed committees to study this question: Just how public should public court records be?